Consultant - Infection Prevention and Control in the Context of Covid-19 at World Health Organization

Purpose of consultancy

To provide technical expertise to the WHE IPC team, for activities and products primarily focused on the COVID-19 response. This will require working across technical units at WHO headquarters, specifically the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Hub and Taskforce, along with close engagement with colleagues in the WHO regional/country offices and key external stakeholders.

Deliverables: 

Output 1:  Contribute to the revision process and roadmap for consolidated COVID-19 IPC guidelines under the supervision of COVID-19 IPC response co-leads produced.

• Activity 1.1:  Progress update to the mapping and prioritization of work activities for the revision process of the COVID-19 IPC guidelines with the technical team.
• Activity 1.2: Progress update (report).    

Output 2: COVID-19 IPC guideline evidence reviews produced.

• Activity 2.1: Facilitate the development of COVID-19 IPC evidence review required for the guidelines including identification of key areas of IPC evidence review required, organizing, and following up with reviewers, reviewing and ensuring GRADE and evidence to decision making summary tables are produced.
• Activity 2.2: Monthly progress update (report).     

Output 3: COVID-19 IPC Guideline development group (GDG) preparations and meetings held.

• Activity 3.1: Prepare for the GDG meetings including ensuring evidence review summaries available (as GRADE and evidence to decision making tables), organizing preparatory meetings with the GDG chair and methodologist to review evidence tables, preparing slide deck for GDG meetings.
• Activity 3.2: Facilitate COVID-19 IPC GDG meetings by supporting with content presentation as required.
• Activity 3.3: Distribute GDG meeting minutes and slides with GDG members.
• Activity 3.4: Regularly update the COVID-19 GDG membership list. 
• Activity 3.5: Monthly progress update (report).

Output 4: COVID-19 IPC Living Guideline produced.

• Activity 4.1: Draft the updated COVID-19 recommendations in the MAGICapp with technical team under the supervision of the COVID-19 co-leads.
• Activity 4.2: Collect and assimilate inputs of draft guidelines from GDG members, external peer reviewers, technical editor, other WHO colleagues.
• Activity 4.3: Submit updated draft version to WHO Publication review committee (PRC) /Guideline Review committee (GRC) and respond to queries accordingly with aim for final approvals.
• Activity 4.4: Monthly progress update (report).

Output 5: COVID-19 living guideline dissemination products, including manuscripts, developed, and disseminated.

• Activity 5.1: Produce manuscript including identifying journal for production of guideline recommendations and/or manuscripts and coordinating writing with others including technical writer.
• Activity 5.2: Produce infographics related to updated guidelines in collaboration with risk communication colleagues.
• Activity 5.3:  Present guidelines updates at events e.g. webinars, as required.
• Activity 5.4: Monthly progress update (report).

Output 6: WHE IPC program and overarching WHO strategic objectives in the COVID-19 Global Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan.

• Activity 6.1: Provide technical expertise into WHE IPC program planning and activities related to the COVID-19 Global Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan.
• Activity 6.2: Progress update (report).

Output 7: Technical IPC expertise to declared outbreaks (non-COVID-19).

• Activity 7.1 – Provide technical expertise and advice in declared outbreaks (exclusive of COVID-19 pandemic) incident management support team (IMST) meetings. 
• Activity 7.2 – Produce disease-specific outbreak IPC report (if an outbreak occurs).    

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages.

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced university degree in health sciences or public health.

Desirable: 

• PhD in public health or medicine.
• Certificate or post graduate diploma in Infection Prevention and Control.

Experience

Essential:

• Over 10 years of relevant work experience in the areas of Infection Prevention and Control and public health including some at the international level.
• Extensive experience in IPC guideline development including convening subject experts.
• Proven experience in the field of public health policy development and implementation.
• Experience in the development of high-level multi-sectoral partnerships towards a common goal.

Desirable: 

• Experience working with or supporting low and/or middle-income countries.  
• Previous work experience with WHO.

Skills

• Expert knowledge of IPC in application to ensure quality and safety for patient care delivery in a variety of emergency settings. 
• Knowledge with the dissemination and implementation strategies of IPC materials. 

Closing Date: Dec 23, 2022